Yet, what an exposure! It does not change according to the circumstance but remains constant. vi. The exact meaning of this word is difficult to translate into English. These "general epistles," as they are called, are placed not after the Pauline but before them. Jesus mentions that a good tree brings forth good fruit and that one can know a man by the fruit (works) he produces (Matthew 7:16). Teaching the Word of God is an awesome responsibility, because when I stand here to teach God's Word, than I am responsible to be teaching the Word of God correctly. It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away, instead of your saying, If the Lord will, and we live, we will also do this, or that. James writes then after this double manner. (ii) It is bitter. But there is a careful abstinence from urging confession to the elders, I cannot doubt, in the far-seeing wisdom of God, who loves souls and hates superstition. These things, said James, should not be. Hence, therefore, God reverses the judgment of the world in all these matters, "Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted. "We all sin," said Seneca, "some more grievously, some more lightly" (On Clemency 1: 6). It is the part of us which disobeys him. Philip Lilley reminds us that Dr. H. F. Stewart said that the arguments of Pascal with the Jesuits reminded him of Alan Breck's fight with the crew of the Covenant in Stevenson's Kidnapped: "The sword in his hand flashed like quicksilver into the middle of our flying enemies, and at every flash came the scream of a man hurt." For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. I press, then, that the word "sinners" here clearly to my mind shows that the Spirit of God in this epistle takes in a larger range than most allow. The NIV accepts that definition and translates the word "impartial." True wisdom asserts itself in our actions toward others. For surely that which a man says publicly will be used to measure himself; and it is well to be prepared for it. How could one think that those who indulge in such thoughts show any real intelligence as to the word of God? The passage speaks of practice, not of doctrine. However, it is an application of "wisdom from above" that drives these It could refer to the partiality condemned in James 2:1-13. There is a temptation which comes from the devil as truly as there is a temptation that comes from God, and is good for man. And then, lastly, true wisdom will go on to sow the fruits of righteousness in peace, and thus, if it may be, to make peace in the world, James 3:18; James 3:18. Biblical writers composed lists of virtues and vices to inspire changes in behavior (e.g., Psalms 15:1; Proverbs 6:17-19; Hosea 4:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-24; Ephesians 5:3-5). These words serve to remind the teacher of the great responsibility he has voluntarily chosen. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience. We all know that the great Reformer, Luther, treated this portion of the word of God with the most undeserved distrust and even contempt. It is unlikely that James knew anything about Orphic reincarnation. (ii) Any particular point in the wheel is always moving up or down. We can tame lions, we've seen the lion tamers and we've watched them in the circus. WebThe idea of master there is a teacher, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation ( James 3:1 ). The person to whom this letter is ascribed can scarcely be one of the two members of the Twelve who bore the name James (see Mt 10:23; Mk 3:1718; Lk 6:1415), for he is not identified as an apostle but only as slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ ().This designation most probably refers to the third New Testament Strenuously by the Holy Ghost, there is no question that the facts which scripture presents to us regarding the church in Jerusalem are as I have endeavoured to state them. In the New Testament itself we get glimpses of teachers who failed in their responsibility and became false teachers. See the Romans 14:19 note; Hebrews 12:14. 17But the wisdom which is from above. It was used in the Septuagint to translate the Hebrew term shalom. Many have fallen by the edge of the sword; but not so many as, have fallen by the tongue. He does not take a position, and then hold it whether right or wrong; he is not a man on whom no arguments or persuasions can have any influence. WebJamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary 17. first pureliterally, "chaste," "sanctified": pure from all that is "earthly, sensual (animal), devilish" (Jas 3:15). Then, let it be repeated, it is not merely good we see here, but a communication of His own spiritual nature; and this He is doing by the word of truth. (i) It is wide-ranging. JFB, without hypocrisy it must refer, like the rest of the six epithets, to our relations to others; our peaceableness and mercy towards others must be without dissimulation. - JFB, Not hypocritical, sincere, unfeigned (Romans 12:9). To be sure, but what is the place of any one who finds a difficulty in the word of God? Then follows a grave and searching consideration for those who talk about the law, "for whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. James 2. On the Temple of Aesculapius at Epidaurus there was the inscription at the entrance: "He who would enter the divine temple must be pure (hagnos, G53) ; and purity is to have a mind which thinks holy thoughts." As he says here, "Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow" not even on the morrow. "By your words you will be justified; and by your words you will be condemned" ( Matthew 12:36-37). What can be conceived more contrary, I will not say to reverence for what claims to be inspired, but even to all sense and discrimination, than such a thought? He needed it in many ways; and so do we. Those who are truly wise do what they can to preserve peace, that it may not be broken; and to make peace, that where it is lost it may be restored. It cannot fall in with those managements which the world counts wise, which are crafty and guileful; but it is sincere and open, steady and uniform, and consistent with itself. The inspiring Spirit, even in the most peculiar production of the New Testament epistles, gives us what harmonizes with every other part, and cements the whole fabric of divine truth. Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible by Matthew Henry Bible Hub James first of all warns against a desire to teach the Word of God that would stem or emanate just from your own desire to be in front of people or whatever. (ii) There is no sin into which it is easier to fall and none which has graver consequences than the sin of the tongue. It neither is a mask, nor does it need a mask. Here, for instance, we have the righteousness of God clearly in a different sense from that so familiar to us in the Pauline epistles. And if any man offends not in word, the same is a perfect man, and is able also to bridle the whole body. Since ancients primarily learned through hearing, writers utilized sound to enhance the sense of the text and aid in memorization. These things should not be so, my brothers. For observe, 3. A chance word dropped at one end of the country or the town can finish up by bringing grief and hurt at the other. It springs from earthly principles, acts upon earthly motives, and is intent upon serving earthly purposes. Now he just turns aside to notice the other; and it is the more important to weigh it well because, as far as I know, it is the only place in scripture where it is definitely presented. It would be waste of time to speak of such a thing now, if it were not of practical moment; but I am convinced that it is' and that this and other stereotyped phrases of the religious world gravely need and will not bear an examination in the light of scripture. 1:911 it is connected to love, knowledge, and discernment. James now begins to describe the second type of wisdom, the one that is to be desired. The man that endures temptation, that accepts it and counts it joy, blessed is he; "for when he is tried he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.". In this sense the phrase very nearly means the wheel of fortune, always changing and always variable. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. . Lie not against the truth. Sir Thomas Browne has a passage on the savagery of scholars to each other: "Scholars are men of peace, they bear no arms, but their tongues are sharper than Actius' razor; their pens carry farther, and give a louder report than thunder: I had rather stand the shock of a basilisco, than the fury of a merciless pen." "Is it a time," said the indignant prophet, to his covetous and deceitful attendant, "to receive money, and to receive garments, and olive-yards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and men-servants, and maid-servants?" II. "Who is he that hath not offended with his tongue?" It is, finally, without hypocrisy, namely, true to appearances. We may well rejoice over a "sinner saved" if we know the mercy of it in our souls; but if we license the phrase a "saved sinner," the moral effect is, that, when and though saved, he is still free to sin. Luther would have been none the worse, but all the stronger, for a real understanding of this writing of James. Peaceable . Living in peace with others, and promoting peace among men. You know we sometimes just don't want to give that person that consolation of saying, "Well that's all right, I understand." Here, on the other hand, we find the common sense of temptation. By good fruits he generally refers to all those duties which benevolent men perform towards their brethren; as though he had said, it is full of benevolence. First man should strive to have peace with God through the forgiveness of his sins (Romans 5:1), and then he should seek peace with his fellowman (Romans 12:18). ( Galates 3:1 )_ 2. Is it not also striking as a proof that superstition is at bottom infidel as truly as free-thinking. Particular pains are taken to guard from this prevalent idea. With such demonstrations, Jesus disturbed the Pharisees. (See Luke 16:1-31) Accordingly their hatred grew until it resulted in the cross of the Lord; and hence this is one of the elements, though of course not the only one, which calls down the judgment of God; and the Spirit of God so treats it here: "Ye have killed the just." "A worthless man plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire," says the writer of the Proverbs ( Proverbs 16:27). Oh, what a difference. There is a great deal of brutish fierceness and wantonness in us. LE DSIR DES GENS DE SE REPOSER ET DE SE RAFRACHIR D'UNE MANIRE PHYSIQUE. And good fruits - The fruits of good living; just, benevolent, and kind actions. Therefore, if we call the tongue the evil kosmos ( G2889) , it means that it is that part of the body which is without God. This aggravated the selfishness of their ways and their indifference to others. Gentle - Mild, inoffensive, clement. Again, the epistle of James was written not merely to the church in Jerusalem, but to the twelve tribes that were scattered abroad. Now where this is the happy case of any there will be these following things:-- 1. It means easily persuaded, compliant. He who realises with God what this world is, and what man's nature is, is humble before Him; as also more grace is given to such. (ii) It is uncontrollable. He that speaketh evil of his brother" is really speaking evil of God's own law and judging it. There is nothing so impossible to kill as a rumour; there is nothing so impossible to obliterate as an idle and malignant story. "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." WebAdam Clarke Bible Commentary James 3:6. We get it in the creation story. "Is any among you afflicted? Most of the persecutions in the church have grown out of this maxim. When the apostles were sent forth of our Lord, they were directed by Him to anoint the sick with oil. First pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy: The character of this wisdom is wonderful. For this kind of wisdom descends not from above. Let's turn to James chapter three. If we are wiser than others, this should be evidenced by the goodness of our conversation, not by the roughness or vanity of it. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. The first point therefore in the mind of the Holy Ghost here is to vindicate God. That is, we are warned against forming resolutions, plans of our future doings and the like. Then comes the general spirit of confession. . The Revised Standard Version correctly translates the Greek literally: "The harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." (ii) The second difficult phrase is what the Revised Standard Version translates the cycle of nature (trochos ( G5164) geneseos, G1083) . in the wrath of a fallen creature. The law of liberty brings in the positive for those who love it not the negation of what the will and lust of man desires, so much as the exercise of the new life in what is according to its own nature. He knows how to forgive when strict justice gives him a Perfect right to condemn. What there can be little doubt the Holy Ghost meant us to gather is, "Ye have heaped together riches in the last days." The wisdom from above is contrasted with the wisdom from below: the latter has envy and contention; the former is pure, being free from envy, and is peaceable.. This passage should not be applied, as it often is, to the doctrines of religion, as if it were the first duty of a church to keep itself free from errors in doctrine, and that this ought to be sought even in preference to the maintenance of peace - as if it meant that in doctrine a church should be first pure, then peaceable; but it should be applied to the individual consciences of men, as showing the effect of religion on the heart and life.
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